Rui Campos Guimarães

Born in Portugal in 1949, Rui Campos Guimarães is Mechanical Engineer (1971, University of Porto, Portugal), M.A. in Operational Research (1976, University of Lancaster, United Kingdom), Ph.D. in Operational Research (1981, University of Lancaster, United Kingdom) and Agregado (1998, University of Porto, Portugal).

He made his academic career at the University of Porto, where he holds the Chair in Industrial Engineering, at the School of Engineering, since 1999.

Over his academic life, he authored and edited numerous articles and books, published both in Portugal and abroad, on Industrial Management, Operational Research, Statistics, and University Affairs.  He was President of the Portuguese Operational Research Society, member of the Editorial Boards of the journals published by the Portuguese and Spanish Operational Research Societies, and member of the International Advisory Board of JORS, the journal published by the British Operational Research Society. He was promoter and first President of INEGI, an interface institute set up by the University of Porto to interact with industry in the areas of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management. At INEGI he led numerous innovation projects carried out with both Portuguese and foreign companies. He was President of the Academic Council and Dean of ISEE-‑EGP, the Business School of the University of Porto.

Among several non-executive posts held outside the university during his academic career, he served in the Board of Directors of INA (the Portuguese Institute for Public Administration), Público (a Portuguese reference daily paper) and Porto 2001 (the company which managed the events of Porto European Capital of Culture).   

Since September 2003 he is on leave from the University of Porto to act as General Director of COTEC Portugal, a not for profit organization aimed at promoting innovation, set up by 100 of the largest companies acting in Portugal, following an initiative by the President of Portugal.

Since September 2005 he represents the Portuguese State at Fundação de Serralves, as a non-‑executive member of the Board of Directors (Fundação de Serralves is a major Portuguese foundation aimed at promoting Contemporary Art).

Company / Organization: COTEC Portugal  

With www-link: www.cotec.pt

A short Intro about your company and relation to Innovation:

COTEC Portugal is a not for profit organization created in 2003 by 100 of the largest companies operating in Portugal (their gross added value represented about 18% of the Portuguese GNP). COTEC Portugal was set up following an initiative of the then President of Portugal, Mr. Jorge Sampaio, with the mission of promoting company innovation.

Address of the Company in Europe:

COTEC Portugal, Rua de Salazares, 842, 4149-002 Porto, Portugal       

Telephone: +351 22 619 29 10

Fax: +351 22 619 29 19   

Email secretariado@cotec.pt